Breast reduction, also called reduction mammaplasty,
is designed to relieve the physical discomfort often associated with
very large breasts and enhance the overall appearance of your breasts.
The procedure removes excess breast tissue and skin, making your breasts
smaller and firmer the areola (the pigmented skin surrounding the
nipple) may be reduced and repositioned.

The procedure of reducing the breasts involves three incisions. One
incision is made around the areola. Another runs vertically from the
bottom edge of the areola to the crease underneath the breast. The third
incision is horizontal beneath the breast and follows the natural curve
of the breast crease.

After the surgeon has removed excess breast tissue, fat and skin, the
nipple and areola are shifted to a higher position. The areola, which in
large breasts usually has been stretched, also is reduced in size. Skin
that was formerly located above the nipple is brought down and together
to reshape the breast. The nipples and areola remain attached to
underlying mounds of tissue, and this allows for the preservation of
sensation. The ability to breast-feed may also be preserved by this
method, although this cannot be guaranteed.

A
general anesthetic is administered, so that you will be asleep
throughout the procedure.

You may notice that you
feel less sensation in the nipple and areola areas. This usually is
temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months or even more than a year
before sensation returns to normal. Your breasts may also require some
time to assume a more natural shape. Incisions will initially be red or
pink in color. They will remain this way for many months following
surgery.

Following reduction,
sometimes the breasts may not be perfectly symmetrical or the nipple
height may vary slightly. If desired, minor adjustments can be made at a
later time. Permanent loss of sensation in the nipples or breasts may
occur rarely. Revisionary surgery is sometimes helpful in certain
instances where incisions may have healed poorly.

Please stay in Costa Rica at least 10
days after surgery

.

I recommend the Las Cumbres
Inn where you will receive personal attention, required medication and
transportation to and from surgery. I visit my patients at Las Cumbres
frequently following surgery to check on your recovery.

After breast reduction surgery, it is often
possible to return to work within just a couple of weeks, depending on
your job. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal
activities, including some form of mild exercise, after four weeks.
Driving after three weeks. You may continue to experience some mild,
periodic discomfort during this time, but such feelings are normal. Any
sexual activity should be avoided for a minimum of one week. After that,
care must be taken to be extremely gentle with your breasts for at least
the next six weeks.

Breast reduction surgery will make your breasts smaller and firmer.
Without the excessive weight of large breasts, you may find greater
enjoyment in playing sports and engaging in other physical activity.

The incisions from your breast reduction surgery will heal and fade over
time. It is important to realize, however, that the incision lines will
be permanently visible, more so in some individuals than others.
Fortunately, the incisions for breast reduction are in locations easily
concealed by clothing.

Breast reduction often makes a dramatic change in your appearance. For
this reason, it may take some time to adjust to your new body image.
Most women, however, eventually become comfortable with their smaller
breasts and feel very pleased with the results of surgery. In fact, the
level of patient satisfaction resulting from breast reduction is among
the highest of any plastic surgery procedure.

Unless you gain or
lose a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, your breast size
should remain fairly constant. However, gravity and the effects of aging
will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually every woman's
breasts. If, after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the
appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a breast "lifting'
procedure to restore their more youthful contour.